Just when it appeared the 'Ning had the game (and the series) wrapped up courtesy of two second-period goals by Ruslan Fedotenko -- off assists by Dave Andreychuk, who is older than George Foreman -- here came Keith Primeau again, as he always does. As he has seemed to throughout these playoffs.

He scored the goal that tied it with less than two minutes left in regulation, then assisted Simon Gagne's game-winner in overtime.

Meaning the Flyers have everything in their favor as they head into Game 7 Saturday in Tampa.

Or not.

Nothing has proven to be long-term in this scrum, even though the team that has scored first has won four of six games. They have alternated victories, and storylines.

Didn't we all believe that 'Ning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin was toast after being beaten for four goals on 12 shots in Game 2? Sorry. Khabibulin allowed a total of five goals in the three games that followed.

And weren't we sure that the Flyers were about to launch a comeback in Game 3, when the ever-present Primeau -- "Suprimeau," according to one video montage here -- scored to slice a 2-0 lead in half?

That feeling lasted all of 43 seconds. Then Martin St. Louis threaded a beautiful pass to Vincent Lecavalier for the goal that sent Tampa Bay winging to a 4-1 victory.

And how 'bout Game 5? Tampa up 3-0 before the Flyers score two quick ones. But Khabibulin makes the lead stand up, despite Philadelphia's 15-shot barrage in the third period.

It was the same Thursday night, the lead changing hands three times before Primeau collected a puck at the right side of the cage and pounded a shot home.

It was his second of the game, his ninth of the playoffs.

One question: How did this guy only score seven goals in 54 regular-season games? OK, he was the checking center. But still -- seven goals? Doesn't seem possible.

Now he has lifted the entire team on his back. Remember how he contributed two points to the Game 1 victory in the first-round series against New Jersey? His hat trick in Game 5 of the Toronto series, after the Maple Leafs had drawn even at two games apiece? The goal and assist he contributed in Game 4 of this series?

On and on he goes -- often solo, but sometimes with accompaniment. Gagne, without a goal in the series before Thursday, finally scratched off the obligatory Primeau set-up in the first period.

Sami Kapanen, back at wing after helping buffet the banged-up defense in Game 5, scored in the second.

The two Andreychuk-Fedotenko collaborations came later. But early in the third period, you could feel it coming for the Flyers, even as Primeau whiffed on a shot early on and Khabibulin denied Alexei Zhamnov, Kapanen and Tony Amonte.

Zhamnov had another chance. Then Jeremy Roenick. Then Mark Recchi.

All for naught.

But finally Primeau was there again, to do what he always seems to do.

It is the only certainty in this series, the only thing anyone can be sure of.